Opinions and information of the Magnum PT-100 MPPT charge controller?

So I see very little information on this new charge controller from Magnum. But from the minimal information I have been able to find it looks interesting 100A output even at 48V, 200V input with a hyperVOC type max VOC of 240V. The displayed information on the device seems limited and I can't find any pricing online? Seem strange that I can't even find information on their own sight about it. I don't have any Magnum equipment but they seem to make good products.

Comments

Followed the embedded link from the video and they have the spec sheet and show introductory pricing of $899. I can attest they are a good company. My source for solar panels and Iron Ridge racking. Only disclaimer on the is I drive up with enclosed trailer to pick up my orders. They prebuild systems also. Last time I was there they had 6+ classic CC they were prewiring. Sounds like it will work other than having to manually set settings via Dip switches. With today's technology should be all thru network connection. They don't have manuals posted just spec sheet. If the box's in video are full they have or had quite a few of them.

No time for manuals but I hope to use these IF, they can be used with their inverter and all communicate to a display in the home. If not, wow what a waste of a nice medium voltage/high output controller, in my opinion.

I believe with the magnum battery monitor. The charger can end absorb accurately via end amps. Which is nice.
Also de rating based on batttery voltage or ambient temps seem very positive.
Atleast by what it written in manual seems like a true 100 amp controller. IT does have 2 internal fans which is understandable at 100amps. I do like passive design when possible.

NAWS responded to my email. "We should have limited stock on the PT-100 by mid July."

Seems cool. I'm waiting for reviews. I just might port over. Magnum has a reputation so I'm convinced they're unlikely to toss out junk into the market. That'd be detrimental to the brand name they've tried so hard to exalt.

Curious if they have had a falling out with Midnite, I believe they have had a close working relationship for years as well as their close proximity to each other, vaguely recall them working with each other in the early years doing high end stereo equipment, though that might be a product of my faulty mind.

Perhaps it's that Midnite has been talking about producing inverters and they have in the past at Outback and W/Trace/Xantrex.

Home system 4000 watt (Evergreen) array standing, with 2 Midnite Classic Lites, Midnite E-panel, Prosine 1800 and Exeltech 1100, 660 ah 24v ForkLift battery. Off grid for @16 of last 17 years. Assorted other systems, and to many panels in the closet to not do more...lol

Well I bought the mppt controller. I have it all setup and appears to work fine. I just have the basics going right now. Whether more advance controls have issues, well I will find that out in the near future. I think I have serial number like 27 or 28. So definitely one of the early production models.

I have an old arc-controller. And it does NOT display charge controller data. I sent an inquiry to magnum and was hoping to get a response within a few days. It was a few hours and I was getting feed back.

my personal interaction has been with a darren Massey. I am super excited about the amount of support they seem to provide. I was told my system would work fine as is, but if i wanted to send the arc in they would reprogram to the latest software and things would be better integrated. arc would display and program the pt-100. Apart from that answers and interactions seem to be of high quality, Someone that knows technicals, not someone just reading through the manuals. At least Darren has answered some of my technical questions with a high level of precision.

I currently only have 800watts of panels connected to the controller at 48v output. No surprise as these low power levels there is no fan noise.

Sending arc back this upcoming week for reprogramming. Later I look forward to testing out the pt100 more extensively. Also plan to use its relay.

anyway that is a very limited update for now.right now i am more excited about tech support than anything else.

I'm running a PT-100 controller because it's higher amp capacity at 200 volts fit my 4500 watt system best and left room for one more string of 4 SW280 watt panels which I hope to add in the future.

Since I'm running a Schneider inverter I can't use the Charge controller's advanced controls which means that with my current 4500 watts in strong sun and small 395/amp/hr battery bank I will charge at a C/4.6 rate. If I add the additional 4 panels I'll be capable of charging at a C.3.7 rate which is a little too strong for my taste. If I do add the additional panels I'll have to purchase a Magnum control panel to de-rate the charge controller some, that or enlarge my battery bank which is an expensive and not required choice.

The PT-100 does allow some adjustments using dip switches.

I've only had the system running for a few days but thus far I'm happy with the PT-100.

with my current 4500 watts in strong sun and small 395/amp/hr battery bank I will charge at a C/4.6 rate. If I add the additional 4 panels I'll be capable of charging at a C.3.7 rate which is a little too strong for my taste.

That is certainly an issue. You need the control panel. What USUALLY happens with extreme over-paneling is that a couple of hours before the sun is high enough to make full power, the batteries are in absorb and will not accept high currents.

Of course, something that is USUALLY safe is not ALWAYS safe, and therefore is not safe.

I called to check if I could use the less expensive ME-RC50 controller to de-rate my PT-100 (see previous post). They did some research and said that I needed the more expensive ME-ARC50 controller to access all of the functions on my PT-100. I ordered it from NAWS and hope to see it in the next few days. Thus far I'm very happy with the PT-100. The only times the fan has come on was when I was equalizing today and when it ran over 55 amps (48v) in strong winter sun.

Yes, I really need a larger battery bank. Keep in mind that I've only run the system for 10 weeks (November and Dec) but I rarely drain the bank below 78% overnight and if the next day is super heavy rain I'm still above 58% the second morning. I'm just an energy Nazi when the sun doesn't shine.

"With today's technology should be all thru network connection" I believe this would be vulnerable to hacking. Maybe I am missing something. Maybe the "network" is the inverter/charge controller assembly? The "network" means different things to different people.

But few people get hacked like I do. I think hackers have played with my ADT security console. It beeps almost every day...followed by a phone call. Can no longer set it manually without using the internet. Thats another story.

Followed the embedded link from the video and they have the spec sheet and show introductory pricing of $899. I can attest they are a good company. My source for solar panels and Iron Ridge racking. Only disclaimer on the is I drive up with enclosed trailer to pick up my orders. They prebuild systems also. Last time I was there they had 6+ classic CC they were prewiring. Sounds like it will work other than having to manually set settings via Dip switches. With today's technology should be all thru network connection. They don't have manuals posted just spec sheet. If the box's in video are full they have or had quite a few of them.

FYI- Received ARC-50 controller I was told was the correct model to control my PT-100. Hooked up, no power/signal.

Called Magnum Energy. It turns out that unless you also have a Magnum inverter the only controls for the inverter are the dip switches. There is no external control panel which can program a stand alone PT-100. I'm still happy with the PT-100 although I was looking forward to being able to measure it's power production and detune it bit for my smaller battery bank.

If I had a Mangum inverter the PT-100 would be a great choice for a controller.

The 100 amps is nice but the ~ 200 volts limit seems silly to me. IMO any new larger end charge controller to the market should be 600 volt. Granted, I do lots mostly 1000V systems at work, so even 600 volts to me seems annoying

From what I understand, the available FET/switching transistors at high voltage/relatively high current are expensive and difficult to design for on the DC side. Grid Tied systems where you are already working with 240 VAC output voltage--A much different design requirement.

What can be done vs what can be done in a cost effective method are two different questions.

From what I understand, the available FET/switching transistors at high voltage/relatively high current are expensive and difficult to design for on the DC side. Grid Tied systems where you are already working with 240 VAC output voltage--A much different design requirement.

What can be done vs what can be done in a cost effective method are two different questions.

-Bill

Yes it is certainly more expensive. I think there is a fundamental difference in topology too, when the dc-dc ratio goes beyond a certain number, it seems to be more efficient to incorporate a transformer rather than use a DC buck converter. The schneider 600v is isolated so it uses a transformer, I am not sure about the morningstar but I would guess so.

Granted I am coming from this from more of an installer's prospective, but I still find it hard to justify a <250v CC and the extra wire and BOS components for a 4-6k or larger system even with free labor.

HI, This is an older thread but would like to see if any has more info to communicate on the PT-100? I need to change/upgrade my set-up so I can upsize my array and this controller seems interesting. No much review available and no info whatsoever about how to get /access to data within. We use to simply plug-in our computer into our actual EP Solar controller and access the data through IE web based (offline). This is still quite a new product . What is your experience after couple of years? Hope to hear from you guys.

Outback has a very similar new controller and has decades of interacting in a complete system. They also have a web portal for monitoring anywhere the system, even controlling it. I looked into Magnum last year and I did not see much of a web portal. If someone with more recent knowledge has better info?

Thanks for your info/Feedback guys. I've contacted Magnum by email and, even though they usually are quite responsive, the answer was relatively ...short. The only way you access the controller data is through the ARC remote. I have that remote and I've noticed a PT100 section for possible readings/set up. Which can be nice. They also have a web portal but you have to buy their webkit which is a bit annoying.

Outback has a very similar new controller and has decades of interacting in a complete system. They also have a web portal for monitoring anywhere the system, even controlling it. I looked into Magnum last year and I did not see much of a web portal. If someone with more recent knowledge has better info?

If I'm not mistaken, they have a proprietary interface which requires you to buy another gizmo to communicate. The Midnite controller are of the open comm variety that you can access, it seems simpler with your computer and ethernet cable (exemple) but never tried it. A lot of info is available on youtube for that. I used to want to see everything in case i need to troubleshoot my system, thus my question about data access. My needs has evolved and I'm less data hungry as long as it works. . I,m very tempted by the Magnum since i want to stay with only one controller for the moment and increase my array to +/-5kw. Which is well within its abilities. I wish there was more complete review of the PT100 though on the web. Aside one or two feloows like Mike here i just couldn't find reviews. If I get it, I'll share my thoughts after a while.

Buy a communication interface is just the cost of doing business to most of my clients, as long as it works!For me to even consider Magnum they would need to be remote configurable and talk as a system with the inverter being the heart.Anything less is just something I pass on when Outback and Schneider do this so easily.